FRANKFURT, GERMANY — Despite the ever-present threat of COVID-19, IFFA, the leading trade fair for Technology for Meat and Alternative Proteins, is set to be in-person from May 14 to 19 in Frankfurt am Main.

According to IFFA, the registration status of the event is “very good,” as more than 900 companies worldwide will be attending. Exhibitors will showcase their innovations for protein processing at the Frankfurt Messe exhibition hall.

"The registration figures for IFFA are a strong signal for Frankfurt as a trade show location,” said Peter Feldmann, lord mayor of the City of Frankfurt and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Frankfurt. “They show us: Messe Frankfurt was, is and will remain world class – despite the cut caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For the first time, IFFA has dedicated a special focus on ingredients and manufacturing processing of alternative, plant-based proteins.

"There is a huge need in the industry of getting together in person,” said Klaus Schröter, managing director of Schröter Technologie GmbH & Co. KG and chairman of the Meat Processing Machinery Division of the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA). “On behalf of the exhibitors, I would like to emphasize that we need IFFA to be a strong international platform this year and we are looking forward to presenting our innovations to the trade audience. With the new topic of alternative proteins, the world's leading trade fair is also experiencing an important realignment and a push towards the future."

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, IFFA has safety measures in place, and will continue to update these measures as the event draws near. The exhibition center features 100% fresh air ventilation and spacious areas with distancing indicators and IFFA will be checking and tracking all attendees’ vaccination/health status.

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